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Mould & Condensation

What is condensation?

Condensation is water droplets that form when warm and moist air cools, for example, when it comes into contact with cold surfaces like window panes or bathroom tiles.

It can be caused by cooking, drying your clothes indoors and when you have a shower or bath. If you don’t ventilate your home, this can cause condensation to occur and, if left untreated, mould.

When you’re in your home, you produce moisture. If you’re cooking you could produce up to 1 litre of moisture per hour, helping to prevent this moisture from building up will help to prevent condensation.

How can I prevent condensation from happening?

Cooking

Cover your pots when cooking and use an extractor fan if you have one. If not, open a window to let any steam out of the room

Shut your kitchen door when cooking. This will help prevent steam going into other rooms.

Washing

Dry clothes outside. If you have to dry them indoors, make sure it’s in a heated and ventilated room and keep a window open to allow moisture to escape

Don’t dry your washing on radiators

Avoid tumble dryers that vent into the room.

Other tips

Open a window if you have a bath or shower

Keep the door shut to your bathroom during and once you have finished having a bath or shower

To allow air to circulate, don’t overfill any cupboards you may have

Open windows during the day to allow air to circulate and moisture to leave. Most can be opened and left with a ventilation gap and still be secured

Rather than keeping one room warm, heat the rest of your home at a constant temperature, above 15 degrees. This method will also help save on your heating bills

Make sure that there is space between your walls and furniture which will allow air to circulate.

How can I treat mould?

If you find that you have mould, carry out the following:

Wipe the affected area with water and a cloth

Use a mould remover and treatment, but make sure that you follow the manufacturers instructions and it is from a recognised brand. You can buy mould removal products from most supermarkets and DIY stores

Do not use washing up liquid as a source to clean

If your clothes are affected, you will need to wash or dry-clean these. They can be stained if not addressed.

If your carpets are affected, you will need to shampoo these carpets

Once you have treated the area affected, you may need to re-decorate. Make sure you use a good anti-fungal paint which will help stop mould from returning. If you overlay this paint with ordinary paint or wallpaper, it won’t be as effective